In a thrilling exhibition game at the O2 Arena in London, Team USA narrowly edged past a determined South Sudan team with a final score of 101-100 on Saturday. The nail-biting finish came courtesy of a game-winning layup by LeBron James, who demonstrated his clutch prowess with just eight seconds left on the clock.
James was undoubtedly the standout performer for Team USA, leading with 23 points on an efficient 9-for-13 shooting, along with six rebounds and seven assists in just 23 minutes of play. His performance was critical in pushing his team over the line in what was an intensely competitive contest.
Game of Runs
The game began with an explosive start from Team USA, who initiated a 12-2 run that seemed to set the tone for the night. However, South Sudan showed their resilience and fought back, managing to take a substantial 14-point lead by halftime, reversing the expectations set by the initial flurry of points from the Americans.
South Sudan’s spirited performance extended into the second half. They even managed to grab a one-point lead late in the fourth quarter, suggesting that an upset might be on the cards. Anthony Edwards played a pivotal role in those closing moments by stripping the ball from Wenyen Gabriel, preventing what could have been a game-changing play for South Sudan.
In the final seconds, South Sudan had an opportunity to shift the momentum back in their favor. Carlik Jones, who had a remarkable game with a triple-double (15 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds), saw his floater miss its mark. Wenyen Gabriel then attempted a putback but failed to convert, sealing the fate in favor of Team USA.
Notable Performances
While LeBron James was the star for Team USA, other players also made significant contributions. Joel Embiid, in particular, added a solid 14 points on a near-perfect 5-for-6 shooting in 18 minutes, along with seven rebounds and two assists. Additionally, White, in his first run with the national team, showcased his playmaking ability with five assists in just 11 minutes on the floor, drawing curiosity about potential lineups. "I'd be curious to see what lineups with both Haliburton and White look like, but it's unclear if Kerr will even experiment with them," remarked an observer from a previous game review.
South Sudan's Marial Shayok was another standout, scoring a game-high 25 points on 9-for-16 shooting, including an impressive 6-for-12 from beyond the arc. His shooting was a crucial factor in keeping South Sudan competitive throughout the game. As a team, South Sudan fared notably well from the three-point line, making 14 of their 33 attempts, a 42.4% success rate, in contrast to Team USA’s lesser accuracy of 7 out of 28.
Key Takeaways
Despite the close call, Team USA managed to win the turnover battle 15-12, a critical factor in their victory. The game also featured strategic rotations by head coach Steve Kerr, who put his second unit on the floor in the third quarter, offering a glimpse of the depth and versatility in the squad.
Noted observers highlighted the familiar trend in Team USA’s play, “Team USA, as usual, was at their best when their defense led to offense.” This classic approach of turning defensive stops into scoring opportunities was again a key component in their ability to pull out a win in a high-stakes environment.
Looking Ahead
The excitement from this nail-biting encounter sets the stage for another thrilling exhibition game, as Team USA is slated to meet Germany in London on Monday at 3 p.m. ET. This upcoming game will provide another opportunity for Steve Kerr to evaluate his lineups and make strategic adjustments, as the team continues to refine its chemistry and performance ahead of more significant competitions.